The following comes from Oct. 9 releases sent out by Planned Parenthood.

With the stroke of his pen, Gov. Jerry Brown today improved reproductive health access for thousands of women in California, bucking the national trend to limit women’s health programs and abortion access. Gov. Brown signed two bills, AB 154 and AB 980, which together improve abortion access so women can receive care from providers they trust in their own communities.

Authored by Assembly Majority Floor Leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), AB 154 broadens access by allowing specially-trained nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives and physician assistants to perform early abortions within the terms of their licenses.  AB 980, authored by Assemblymember Richard Pan, M.D., eliminates several arcane regulations tied to abortion care and ensures that all primary care clinics in the state, including those that provide abortion care, are held to the same standards.

ab-154-success“Governor Brown has always been a champion for women’s reproductive health and he’s proved it once again,” said Kathy Kneer, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. “His signing of these bills comes at a critical time when other states and the Congress are moving to restrict access to reproductive health care. Last year, 43 states moved to restrict abortion access.  We hope that California can serve as a model for the nation and help stem the tide of regressive reproductive health laws.”

 “….California is showing the rest of the country that this is not the time to go backwards on access to safe and legal abortion, “ said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “This is an important step toward ensuring politics and geography cannot interfere with the medical decisions that belong to a woman and her health care provider.  Gov. Jerry Brown signing these two bills into law at a time when Planned Parenthood organizations are fighting in statehouses and courthouses across the country against policies that would take women back to the 1950s makes this victory for California women all the more important.”

….Thank you to all of the reproductive health supporters across California for helping make this happen!

….The bill had the support of the California Women’s Health Alliance, which comprises more than 30 women’s health and rights groups that support improving access to women’s reproductive health care.

California Women’s Health Alliance members: ACCESS Women’s Health Justice, ACLU of California, ACT for Women and Girls, American Nurses Association/California, Bay Area Communities for Health Education, Black Women for Wellness, Business & Professional Women of Nevada County, California Church IMPACT, California Family Health Council, California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, California Nurse-Midwives Association, California Women’s Law Center, Cardea Institute, Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice, Choice USA, Forward Together, Fresno Barrios Unidos, Khmer Girls in Action, League of Women Voters of California, NARAL Pro-Choice California, National Abortion Federation, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Council of Jewish Women – California, National Health Law Program, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Network of Abortion Funds, Nevada County Citizens for Choice, Nursing Students for Choice, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Reproductive Justice Coalition of Los Angeles, Women’s Community Clinic, Women’s Health Specialists of California

To see the entire releases, click here and here.